Editing Binary image (section)

=== 1-bit pixel art ===
[[File:50x50x1b.svg|thumb|200px|1-bit pixel art combining imagery with text]]
Binary [[Pixel art|pixelart]], better known as ''1-Bit'' or ''1bit'' art, has been a method of displaying graphics since early computers. While
early computers such as the [[ZX81]] used the restriction as a necessity of the hardware, hand-held LCD games such as [[Game & Watch]] and [[Tamagotchi]], alongside early computers with a focus on graphic user interfaces like the [[Macintosh_128K|Macintosh]] made large steps in promoting the culture, technique and aesthetic of the restrictions of 1-bit art.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Green|first=Michael|title=Zen and the Art of the Macintosh, 1986|url=https://archive.org/details/mac_Zen_the_Art_of_Macintosh1986|access-date=2021-04-30|website=archive.org|year=1986 |language=en}}</ref>

Modern examples of 1bit art are visible in indie videogames and other digital art.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2019-06-01|title=Gato Roboto: Erinnert an Gameboy-Spiele, liegt aber voll im Trend|url=https://blog.wdr.de/digitalistan/gato-roboto-erinnert-an-gameboy-spiele-liegt-aber-voll-im-trend/|access-date=2021-04-30|website=Digitalistan|language=de-DE}}</ref> Best-seller games like ''[[Gato Roboto]]'', ''[[Return of the Obra Dinn]]'', ''[[Minit (video game)|Minit]]'' and ''[[World of Horror]]'' use 1bit as a style to give their games a retro feel<ref>{{Cite web|last=Krishnan|first=Jay|date=2020-02-19|title=World of Horror Early Access Preview :: 1 Bit Macabre|url=https://gameffine.com/world-of-horror-early-access-preview-1-bit-macabre/|access-date=2021-04-30|website=Gameffine|language=en-US}}</ref> or to simply save the graphic designers time in development.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Harris|first=John|title=Q&A: Exploring the design of cat-in-a-mech Metroidvania Gato Roboto|url=https://gamasutra.com/view/news/345985/QA_Exploring_the_design_of_catinamech_Metroidvania_Gato_Roboto.php|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190705094840/https://gamasutra.com/view/news/345985/QA_Exploring_the_design_of_catinamech_Metroidvania_Gato_Roboto.php|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 5, 2019|access-date=2021-04-30|website=gamasutra.com|date=July 5, 2019 |language=en}}</ref> There is even new 1-Bit hardware in development, such as the experimental handheld console [[Playdate (console)|Playdate]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Playdate Media Kit|url=https://play.date/|access-date=2021-04-30|website=play.date|language=en}}</ref>

For pixel artists, 1-Bit has become a common challenge for creating art. The pixelart contest ''Pixtogether'' required its participants to use only two colours for its 10th monthly contest.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Twitter account "pix2getherevent"|url=https://twitter.com/pix2getherevent/status/1358051355429109760|url-status=live|access-date=2021-04-30|website=Twitter|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210430110315/https://twitter.com/pix2getherevent/status/1358051355429109760 |archive-date=April 30, 2021 }}</ref> Not a lot of artists mainly do 1bit art, but many of them stay in contact with each other to exchange knowledge about working with the restriction, and hosting own collaborations.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Twitter account "1bitbadbitches"|url=https://twitter.com/1bitbadbitches|url-status=live|access-date=2021-05-01|website=Twitter|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210316215628/https://twitter.com/1bitbadbitches |archive-date=March 16, 2021 }}</ref>

Brandon James Greer, who makes popular YouTube tutorials<ref>{{Cite web|title=1-bit pixel art con Brandon James Greer {{!}} www.masayume.it|url=https://www.masayume.it/blog/content/1-bit-pixel-art-con-brandon-james-greer|access-date=2021-04-30|website=www.masayume.it}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=How to Make 1-Bit Pixel Art|date=April 8, 2020 |url=https://theawesomer.com/how-to-make-1-bit-pixel-art/567029/|access-date=2021-04-30|language=en-US}}</ref> on 1bit and other pixel artwork, says that "the restriction leads to some unique approaches" and that working in 1-Bit is "a very fun and unique challenge".<ref>Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/0BZwEoj50uw Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20200724113513/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0BZwEoj50uw Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{Citation|title=1-Bit Pixel Art Techniques (Tutorial + Timelapse)| date=November 30, 2019 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0BZwEoj50uw|language=en|access-date=2021-04-30}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

While 1bit can be called an [[Style (visual arts)|art style]] itself, each piece falls under a second style too. Obvious differences in 1bit art styles are for example whether, how much and what kind of [[Dither|dithering]] is being used, the [[image resolution]], the use of [[Outline drawing|outlines]] and how detailed the artwork is.